Michael Smith - Back to Basics: 100 Simple Classic Recipes with a Twist

INTRODUCTION

When I was knee-high to a grasshopper, my mom welcomed me into her kitchen and without even realizing it began teaching me one of the most important lessons Ive ever learned. The kitchen can be a friendly, relaxed place where at any moment magic can appear. Frankly, I think her intention was more to keep an eye on my brothers and me, but nevertheless I learned early on to enjoy myself in her kitchen.

Professional kitchens are dramatically different from home kitchens, but my moms lesson has served me well throughout my career as a chef. I learned that hard work is its own reward and that no matter how serious thekitchen is, cooks will always find a way to stir in some fun. I learned a few more lessons along the way: that the cook matters a lot more than the recipe, that cooking does not have to be rigid, that recipes are really just a starting point.

Today, though, its all about the realities of my familys kitchen. My job is to prepare multiple healthy, tasty meals every single day. My only real critics are my kids, and the end always justifies the means. In other words, as long as theyre licking the plate clean Im free to keep having fun in the kitchen.

You dont have to freestyle to be a great cook, but why not try? You can reliably stick to the basics of the recipes in this book, but you can just as easily find a way to stir in your own personality. Success is defined not by whether you cook exactly the way I do but by whether you and your table are enjoying yourselves. Nothing is more fun than taking pride in something you created yourself, then taking a bow for the inevitable compliments!

From gathering impeccable ingredients and learning the story of their provenance, to immersing yourself in the intricacies of a preparation, to triumphantly sharing the results, cooking can be a journey of discovery and fun. All you have to do is throw caution to the winds and relax!